Sun cot

ABSTRACT

A sun cot for protecting a sun bather from the prying eyes of potential observers including a supporting bed, upstanding canvas end and side panels being provided and being supported on upstanding frame members. A zip fastener may be provided in one panel for entry of the sun bather.

United States Patent Johnston 1 1 June 20, 1972 [54] SUN COT [56]References Cited [72] Inventor: Edward W. Johnston, PO. Box 457, NITEDSTATES PATENTS Schefferville, Quebec, Canada I 964 461 6/1934 1221Filed: Sept. 23, 1970 1,734,505 1 9 2,672,627 3/1954 21 Appl. No.:74,600 3,278,953 10/1966 1,617,435 2/1927 Coleman et a] ..128/372 [30]Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Casmir A. NunbergJune 2, 1970 Canada ..084 435 Altomey10hns0ny Marcus &

52 us. or ..13s/s.1, 128/372, 5/1 13 [571 ABSTRACT [5 l Int. Cl ..A61g9/00, A61 g 33/06, A670 79/00 A sun cot for protecting a sun bather fromthe prying eyes of [58] Field of Search ..5/l13, 121, 163, 344, 362;potential observers including a supporting bed, upstanding canvas endand side panels being provided and being supported on upstanding framemembers. A zip fastener may be provided in one panel for entry of thesun bather.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures EATENTED XZ IB Z 3,670,750

SHEET REF 3 Agents PATENTEnJuxzo 1972 3. 670.750

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Agents.

SUN cor This invention relates to sun cots.

Many people, particularly women, would like to sun bathe in privacy,particularly on private property, but are unable to do so because theproperty is overlooked. It is, of course, desirable to provide a sun cotwithin which a person may sun bathe in privacy and yet be exposed to thesun.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sun out within which aperson may sun bathe in relative privacy and yet be able to adjust thesun cot to be exposed to the sun.

According to the invention, there is provided a sun cot having a baseframe, a base panel for supporting a reclining person and secured to theperiphery of the frame, members spaced around the periphery andextending upwards in a lengthwise direction, and opaque panel portionsbetween said members to protect said person and provide relativeprivacy.

A sun cot according to the present invention is illustrated, by way ofexample, in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sun cot;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the sun cot in FIG. 1 without the side and endcanopies, and illustrating the adjustment of the side members; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective corner view of a portion of the sun cot shown inFIG. 1.

ln FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a sun cot having a rectangular baseframe 1 comprising side portions 2 and 3, and end portions 4 and 5. Acanvas base panel 7 for supporting a reclining person (not shown) issecured to the side portions 2 and 3 and the end portions 4 and 5. Ateach corner of the frame 1 there is disposed one of four corner members8 to 11 extending upwardly in a lengthwise direction. Pivot means two ofwhich are shown and designated 14 and 15 for corner members 9 andrespectively, pivotally attaching each of the corner members 8 to 11 toits respective corner of the base frame 1 to pivot the corner members 8to 11 as pairs designated 8, l1 and 9, 10 from positions upwardlysloping towards one another, such as shown designated 8a, 11a and 9a,10a and dotted in H6. 2, to positions upwardly sloping away from oneanother, such as shown designated 8b, 11b and 9b, 10b and dotted in FIG.2. Two upwardly extending canvas side panels 17 and 18 are eachsupported by the corner members 8. 9 and 10, 11 respectively, on oneside of the base frame 1. Two upwardly extending canvas end panels 20and 21 each have upwardly extending folds 22 and 23 respectively and aresupported by the corner members 8. l1 and 9, 10 respectively. It will beappreciated that, in some arrangements, the folds may be omitted fromthe ends panels. The canvas, may, of course, be any suitable material toallow for privacy, protection from cool winds, bugs, flies, and vermin,etc.

It will also be appreciated that the invention is not restricted tohaving a rectangular base, but that the base may be any convenientshape.

The base frame 1 is a conventional tubular folding cot having endsections 25 and 26 foldable upwardly in the directions of arrows Y and Zrespectively over a central portion 27 after the corner members 8, 11and 9, 10 have been folded in the directions of arrows W and Xrespectively. The base frame has tubular supports 29 and 32 which arefoldable, 29 and 30 against end section 25 and, 31 and 32 against endsection 26. A mattress 34 is disposed on the canvas base panel 7. Ifdesired, anchoring chains such as those designated 36 may be attached toany of the supports 29 to 32 to anchor the as sembly during high winds.

Sway bars 38 and 39 are pivotally attached to corner members 8, 11 and9, 10 respectively. The sway bar 38 is shown in two portions whichtelescope together in a bracket 41 on the end of the base frame 1. Thesway bar 39 is also in two portions 39a and 39b, which telescopetogether in a bracket 42 on the opposite end of the base frame 1 and arelocked together by wing nut 43 (FIG. 3) and nut 48. in this embodimentthe comer members 8 to 11 are joined by top side bars 44 and 45, and topend bars 46 and 47. The top side bars 44 and 45 are in two parts whichare detachably connected together by coneach in two portions whichtelescope together at 52 and 53, respectively, and are held in aparticular telescoped position by fasteners 54 and 55 respectively.

It will be appreciated that the bars, etc. joining the ends of the sideframes need not necessarily be in two telescoping por-, tions, e. g. 39aand 3912, but may instead be in one piece. Furthermore, instead ofhinging bars such as 44 and 45 to members 8 through 11, the bars can bedetachable therefrom to facilitate folding to the sun cot.

The side panels 17 and 18 are attached to their respective side portion2 or 3 and top side bar 44 or 45. The side panel 18 is provided with ascreened air vent 57 having a cover flap 58. The end panel 21 is in twoparts which are held together by zip fastener 59 and are both slidablyattached to sway bar 39 and top end bar 47.

The corner members 8 to 11 have an inverted U-shaped frame 60 pivotallyattached to it at the ends of the arms 61 and 62 of the u so as to becapable of lowering or raising for greater privacy. A cross member 64 ofthe U shaped frame 60 is pivotally attached to the arms 61 and 62, is intwo portions which telescope together at 68 and which are locked in aparticular telescope position by fastener 65. The end panel 20 isslidably attached to the sway bar 38 and the cross member 64 and is thussupported by the corner members 8 and 11. Two tapering canvas panels 66and 67 are attached to their respective comer members 8 or 11 and arm 61or 62. i i

If desired a side canopy and an end canopy 71 may be provided on topside bar 45 and top end bar 47. The side canopy 70 comprises a U-framepivotally attached at the ends of the arms of the U to the top side bar45. The canvas panel 75 is secured inside the U-shaped frame 73. Anadjustable rod 76 connects the U-shaped frame 73 to the top side bar 46to which the rod 76 may be secured at various positions (by means notshown) along the length of the top side bar 46 to adjust the angle ofincline of the side canopy 70. The end canopy 71 comprises a U-shapedframe 78 pivotally attached at the ends of the arms of the U" to the topend bar 47. Tl-le U-shaped frame 78 is slidably mounted (by means notshown) on the top end 47 to accommodate lengthwise adjustment of the topend bar 47. A canvas panel 79 is secured inside the U- shaped frame 78.An adjustable rod 80 connects the U-shaped frame 78 to the top side bar44. The adjustable rod 80 may be secured at various positions (by meansnot shown) to the top side bar 44 to adjust the angle ofincline of theend canopy 71.

In operation, the sun cot is arranged as shown. A sun bather enters thesun cot by opening zip fastener 59. By adjustments of the lengths of topbars 44 and 45 the side panels 17 and 18 are inclined to allow the sunbather in the sun cot to be within the suns rays, but not permit anobserver such as 81 to ob serve the sun bather. The side canopy 70 andend canopy 71, when provided, may also be adjusted for this purpose.Adequate privacy may thus be provided to permit suntanning of the wholebody while being screened from prying eyes. This may well havebeneficial health effects to a person.

It will be appreciated that instead of using a canvas base panel 7 aspring-type of base panel may be used. Furthermore, the top side bars 44and 45 may conveniently be telescopically constructed with an innerslidable adjustable rod which can be locked in position by anyconvenient means.

To facilitate the folding of the sun cot in a relatively flat storageposition, the top side bars 44 and 45 may conveniently be each formed intwo parts and separable at the center. By suitable hinging, andselection of length, the members 8 to 11 and the side bars can be placedon, and substantially parallel to, the base panel 7 so as to form arelatively compact folded sun cot for storage or carrying purposes.

I claim:

2 F t nectors 49 and 50 respectively. The top bars 44 and45,are,jpivotally attached at their ends to the corner members 8 to], 11so that by releasing the connectors 49 and 50 the portions the corner.post 8 to 11 to which that portion is attached when j. i the cot isfolded for storage. The top end bars 46. and 47 are.

l. A sun cot, comprising a substantially rectangular-shaped base framein which each side of said base frame comprises a central portionextending across the width of said base frame and two end portions,pivot means pivotally attaching said end portions to said centralportions for collapsing said end portions towards one another, a basepanel for supporting a reclining person and secured to side and endportions of said frame, at each corner of said frame one of four comersmembers extending upwardly in a lengthwise direction, pivot meanspivotally attaching each said comer member to its respective comer ofsaid frame to pivot said corner members as pairs from positions upwardlysloping towards one another across the ends of said frame to positionsupwardly sloping away from one another and also for collapsing saidcorner members onto said frame, two top side bars, each side bar extendsalong one side of said base frame, between upper ends of said cornermembers, said top side bars each comprising two lengthwise extendingportions, connecting means detachable connecting said top side barportions, and a pivot joining each said side bar portion to therespective corner members, whereby said portions when disconnected fromone another may be collapsed against their respective comer members, twotop end bars, said top end bars extending along opposite ends of saidbase frame between upper ends of said comer members forming a pair, saidtop end bars each comprising two telescoping parts, locking means forlocking said telescoping parts in a desired telescoped position, andpivot means attaching each telescoping part to its respective said comermember for accommodating angular movements of said corner members fromone said sloping position to the other said sloping position, twoupwardly extending side panels disposed on opposite sides of said baseframe and each supported by the corner members on one side of saidframe, two upwardly extending end panels disposed on opposite ends ofsaid base frame, each said end panel being supported by the comermembers forming one ofsaid pairs.

2. A sun cot according to claim 1 wherein said two upwardly extendingend panels have upwardly extending folds.

3. A sun cot according to claim 1, including an inverted U- shaped frameat one end of said base frame, pivot means pivotally attaching the endsof the arms of said U-shaped frame to said comer members at said end ofsaid frame for collapsing said U-shaped frame, from an inclinedposition, against said comer members, pivot means pivotally attaching across member forming the upper portion of said U-shaped frame to saidarms, said cross member being in two telescoping portions, locking meansfor locking said telescoping portions in a desired telescoped positionto accommodate together with said cross member pivot means movements ofsaid corner posts from one said sloping position to another, twotapering side panels each on one side of said base frame and joined toone of said comer members and the corresponding arm of said U-shapedframe, and said end panel at the same end of said base frame as saidU-shaped frame is joined to said U-shaped frame.

4. A sun cot, according to claim 1, including a zip fastener joiningtogether two upwardly extending flexible sheets forming one of said endpanels, to provide entry to said sun cot.

5. A sun cot according to claim 1, including an adjustable side canopydisposed along one side of said base frame, pivotal means pivotallyattaching said side canopy to the upper ends of said comer posts on thesame side of said base frame as said canopy, for tilting said sidecanopy over said base frame.

6. A sun cot according to claim 1, including an adjustable end canopydisposed along one end of said base frame, pivotal means pivotallyattaching said end canopy to the upper ends of said corner posts on thesame end of said base frame as said canopy, for tilting said end canopyover said base frame,

7. A sun cot according to claim 1, including a screened air vent in oneof said panels, and an adjustable flap for opening said air vent.

8. A sun cot according to claim 1, including supports for supportingsaid base frame, pivotal means connecting said supports to said baseframe for folding said supports against said base frame.

1. A sun cot, comprising a substantially rectangular-shaped base framein which each side of said base frame comprises a central portionextending across the width of said base frame and two end portions,pivot means pivotally attaching said end portions to said centralportions for collapsing said end portions towards one another, a basepanel for supporting a reclining person and secured to side and endportions of said frame, at each corner of said frame one of four cornersmembers extending upwardly in a lengthwise direction, pivot meanspivotally attaching each said corner member to its respective corner ofsaid frame to pivot said corner members as pairs from positions upwardlysloping towards one another across the ends of said frame to positionsupwardly sloping away from one another and also for collapsing saidcorner members onto said frame, two top side bars, each side bar extendsalong one side of said base frame, between upper ends of said cornermembers, said top side bars each comprising two lengthwise extendingportions, connecting means detachable connecting said top side barportions, and a pivot joining each said side bar portion to therespective corner members, whereby said portions when disconnected fromone another may be collapsed against their respective corner members,two top end bars, said top end bars extending along opposite ends ofsaid base frame between upper ends of said corner members forming apair, said top end bars each comprising two telescoping parts, lockingmeans for locking said telescoping parts in a desired telescopedposition, and pivot means attaching each telescoping part to itsrespective said corner member for accommodating angular movements ofsaid corner members from one said sloping position to the other saidsloping position, two upwardly extending side panels disposed onopposite sides of said base frame and each supported by the cornermembers on one side of said frame, two upwardly extending end panelsdisposed on opposite ends of said base frame, each said end panel beingsupported by the corner members forming one of said pairs.
 2. A sun cotaccording to claim 1 wherein said two upwardly extending end panels haveupwardly extending folds.
 3. A sun cot according to claim 1, includingan inverted U-shaped frame at one end of said base frame, pivot meanspivotally attaching the ends of the arms of said U-shaped frame to saidcorner members at said end of said frame for collapsing said U-shapedframe, from an inclined position, against said corner members, pivotmeans pivotally attaching a Cross member forming the upper portion ofsaid U-shaped frame to said arms, said cross member being in twotelescoping portions, locking means for locking said telescopingportions in a desired telescoped position to accommodate together withsaid cross member pivot means movements of said corner posts from onesaid sloping position to another, two tapering side panels each on oneside of said base frame and joined to one of said corner members and thecorresponding arm of said U-shaped frame, and said end panel at the sameend of said base frame as said U-shaped frame is joined to said U-shapedframe.
 4. A sun cot, according to claim 1, including a zip fastenerjoining together two upwardly extending flexible sheets forming one ofsaid end panels, to provide entry to said sun cot.
 5. A sun cotaccording to claim 1, including an adjustable side canopy disposed alongone side of said base frame, pivotal means pivotally attaching said sidecanopy to the upper ends of said corner posts on the same side of saidbase frame as said canopy, for tilting said side canopy over said baseframe.
 6. A sun cot according to claim 1, including an adjustable endcanopy disposed along one end of said base frame, pivotal meanspivotally attaching said end canopy to the upper ends of said cornerposts on the same end of said base frame as said canopy, for tiltingsaid end canopy over said base frame.
 7. A sun cot according to claim 1,including a screened air vent in one of said panels, and an adjustableflap for opening said air vent.
 8. A sun cot according to claim 1,including supports for supporting said base frame, pivotal meansconnecting said supports to said base frame for folding said supportsagainst said base frame.